The best graduating student for the 2015/ 2016 academic session, Alli, Abdul- Hafeez Semomhe has attributed his success to determination, diligence and trust in God.

Alli who graduated from the Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering with a CGPA of 4.89, set a new record over the previous 4.86 CGPA of the last academic session. 23 year old, Edo born Ali obtained an OND with distinction in Electrical/ Electronics from Auchi Polytechnic in 2011 before entering FUTA in 2012 through Direct Entry.

The valedictorian who has always been passionate about anything related to electricity from his childhood, was always in the habit of repairing malfunctioning gadgets at home. This passion he carried into his academics at Auchi and FUTA. This eventually yielded positive results enabling him to graduate with a record setting CGPA.

Ali disclosed that graduating top of his class was born during the convocation of the 2012/2013 academic session, while the valedictorian of that year was reading his speech. Describing his sojourn in FUTA, he said he was focused and diligent at the same time determined to be the best graduating student. He appreciated the university management for creating an enabling environment suitable for learning. He also lauded the efforts of his lecturers in assisting students to achieve academic success. Find below excerpts from the valedictory speech

Five years of wondering and hoping, wondering if we would make it to this day. Today marks the climax of our 5 year undergraduate experience- we are the graduating class of 2016. I feel privileged, honoured, delighted, and joyous being asked to give the valedictory speech when there are scholars and very intelligent graduands amongst us. Indeed, I am honoured to represent such scholars.

Few years ago, precisely November 24th 2012, I was among the newly admitted students and attended the 2012 convocation ceremony in which the valedictorian was Adegoke Nurudeen. That day, I had a dream to become the valedictorian of my set. Here we are today 18th March, 2017, I am the best graduating student setting a new academic record in the institution among a group of intellects who are pace setters. Alhamulillah! Truly dreams still come to pass.

Today is an awkward moment in our lives because we are torn between the joy of our memories and excitement for what the future holds. When we look back in the five years spent in this great institution and remember those sleepless nights, trekking between Obakekere and Obanla at night, working on the school farm, carrying MEE drawing board around, having university lectures in ETF lecture theatre and those night classes – we would be filled with joy that those struggles paid off and today we are graduates.

My fellow graduates, five years ago we came here as individuals but today we leave as a collective unit – Class of 2016 having created bonds of friendship, teams of creative, innovative and intelligent minds. By God’s grace we will all emerge few years from now as successful personalities and great players in the affairs of our nation.

All we have to do is believe in ourselves, acquire more skills and work smart. Remember, that we got to this stage in life by undergoing a training here in FUTA that built our minds, our persistency in tackling challenges and our urge for success. We have to look inside ourselves and develop those skills that we need to improve the environment. Let us be driven by those passions that can contribute to the development of our immediate environment and the nation at large.

The university has instilled in us a burning fire to succeed and a passion to make our environment a better place. As graduates of this great institution, we can do anything. The great Henry Ford said: “Whether you think you can or think you can’t, you’re right”. Although life is challenging, let us have that conviction that we can achieve anything while we work towards building our skills working smartly and most importantly trusting Allah, our creator.

To the current undergraduates of FUTA, most especially the youngest set you have to know that being in the tertiary institution should not cause you to be arrogant but rather get you educated and make you humble. In the words of Sathya Sai, “Humility and character are the hallmark of true education”. You have to define your goals and identify your priorities. Making friends, taking various posts should not be your focus. You’ve got to manage your life such that you attain balance in all your endeavours.

After five long years we are here today as graduands, we worked hard to get to this point and Allah made easy our affairs, but we didn’t do it by ourselves. We owe a huge debt of gratitude to a lot of persons.

I would like to congratulate our parents, guardians, families and friends – thank you for all the support you have given us even when it was challenging, you never gave up on us and we will continue to make you proud.

I would love to appreciate the sacrifice, love, care and all the efforts made by my parents Mr. and Mrs. Braimah. I am totally indebted to you. Thank you for believing in me, for trusting me and for guiding me. I am glad I am your son. To my siblings Fatimah, Halimah, Sakinah, AbdulBasit, AbdulQuddus thank you for being supportive.

On behalf of the graduating set of 2016, I would love to appreciate the doggedness of the school management – our Chancellor, Alhaji Rilwan Suleiman Adamu, the Emir of Bauchi, the Pro Chancellor, our able and favourite Vice-chancellor, Adebiyi Daramola and all the Principal officers of this University, thank you for keeping things running smoothly while we were undergraduates and for making this institution the pride of all.

My profound gratitude goes to the head of department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, Dr. S. A. Oyetunji, and the teaching and non­teaching staff of the department, thanks for your support and encouragement. To all my lecturers in Electrical and Electronics Engineering thank you to your unrelenting efforts in imparting knowledge and my Project supervisor Dr. W. O. Apena thank for pushing us beyond our limits, for your guidance and your fatherly advice, I promise to represent you well.

To my friends, Nwaobasi Ifeanyi, Okparanaku Vivian, Yusuf Ridwan, Lekan Hammed and all others, thank you for being there when I needed support and thank you for believing in me.

I would love to express my gratitude to the Muslim Community under Prof. I. A. Amao, thanks for your encouragement and to MSSN futa branch and Akad Muslim community thank you for giving me a chance of leadership. Also, I am grateful to the Abdul-Kabir Scholarship for the sponsorship provided at a certain level in my undergraduate training.

We appreciate the dozens of people who supported us in ways we cannot enumerate. Thank you for coming to share in our joy today. We will forever be grateful to you.

Finally, as graduates we face so many challenges and uncertainties both in the immediate and distant future. Let us know that uncertainty is synonymous with opportunity. Thank you all once again for coming to witness this special day.

God bless SEET! God bless FUTA!! God bless Ondo State!!! God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria!!!!